The Fundamental Problems of Our Times and Their Solutions: How Bad do You Want It? Hardcover – March 17, 2026

What if every crisis we face—from crushing debt to unaffordable housing, from unemployment to war itself—stems from ignoring a single universal law that governs not just economics, but happiness, health, and human flourishing?In this unprecedented synthesis of economics, libertarian philosophy, positive psychology, and technological futurism, Michael R. Laxner reveals that the Law of Supply and Demand is not merely a market principle but a fundamental law of the universe itself—as immutable as gravity and as universal as "you reap what you sow." Blending insights from free-market economists like Ludwig von Mises and Milton Friedman, libertarian thinkers like Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard, personal development pioneers like Napoleon Hill and Skip Ross, and even wisdom traditions from the Dalai Lama to Thích Nhất Hạnh, Laxner demonstrates that aligning with natural law—through voluntary exchange, personal responsibility, and positive mental attitude—is the path to solving every problem we face.But here's where this book becomes truly revolutionary: Laxner shows that we stand at the threshold of unprecedented abundance. Exponential technologies—artificial intelligence, solar energy, biotechnology, 3D printing, and Bitcoin—are creating supply so massive that scarcity itself is becoming obsolete. When energy becomes essentially free, when AI democratizes expertise, when manufacturing happens locally on demand, when sound money protects savings from government theft—the fundamental problems of poverty, unaffordable healthcare, limited education, and resource-driven conflict simply disappear. The future is not merely bright; it is blindingly brilliant—but only if we embrace the freedom that allows markets and technology to create this abundance.This book offers more than analysis—it offers a complete philosophy for thriving in the 21st century. You'll discover why positive mental attitude isn't feel-good nonsense but supply-side psychology that determines your results. Why free markets aren't cold and heartless but the most compassionate system ever devised. Why property rights and individual sovereignty create the conditions for both personal happiness and collective prosperity. Why the same law that governs prices also governs relationships, health, and inner peace. Most importantly, you'll understand why believing in human goodness and capability—trusting free people to cooperate voluntarily rather than requiring government control—is not naive optimism but hard-headed realism aligned with how the universe actually operates. The choice is yours. The principles are clear. How bad do you want it? Read more